Libraries in the Netherlands experience a surge in activities and membership

Library associations in the Netherlands reported a surge in almost all library activities, seeing an increase in both the number of people borrowing items and the attendance at events organized by libraries.

In 2022, library membership increased with 1.3 million adults and 2.2 million youth members (aged 18 or under), marking a growth of 2 percent and 4 percent respectively compared to 2021. Additionally, despite a previous decline, the number of borrowed physical books also rose to 53.3 million, up from 39.8 million in 2021.

The lending of e-books remained fairly constant, with over 5.3 million e-books borrowed in both 2021 and 2022. However, the number of library members with online accounts increased significantly, with more than 524,000 in 2022, a 20 percent increase from the previous year.

Libraries also hosted a record number of activities in 2022. Compared to 220,000 events in 2019, before the pandemic, approximately 247,000 events took place in 2022. While nearly 2.2 million Dutch people attended these events in 2019, the number grew to 3.4 million in 2022. "These figures show that the library is increasingly strengthening its position as an important meeting place," library professionals noted. Activities related to education, development, reading promotion, and literature introduction were the most popular.